Stage names:

Nakamura Shibajûrô
Iwai Senchô
Ichikawa Yaozô
Iwai Kiyotarô III

Guild: Edoya

Poetry name: Senchô, Shiraku

Existence: 1799 ~ 24th day of the 8th lunar month of 1847

Connection:

Father: Iwai Kiyotarô II (Ichikawa Yaozô IV)

Master: Nakamura Utaemon III

Career:

11th lunar month of 1804: he makes his debut on stage (hatsubutai), at the Nakamuraza where he receives the name of Iwai Kiyotarô III and performs as a koyaku in the kaomise drama "Kiku Zumô Mikurai Sadame", which celebrates the shûmei of Iwai Hanshirô V, Ichikawa Yaozô IV and Nakayama Bunshichi III.

1815: Kiyotarô goes to Kamigata.

1817: he performs under the name of Ichikawa Yaozô (his father's name!) while touring in Ise.

11th lunar month of 1819: he takes the name of Iwai Senchô.

1819: he becomes a disciple of the Kamigata star Nakamura Utaemon III.

11th lunar month of 1819: he takes the name of Nakamura Shibajûrô at the Kado no Shibai, playing the role of Kanaya Zensuke in the drama "Yorokobiariya Hokutô no Isaoshi".

1831: Shibajûrô goes back to Edo.

8th lunar month of 1837: Shibajûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ono no Kudayû and Ichimonjiya Saibê in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

13th day of the 7th lunar month of 1838: his master Nakamura Tamasuke dies.

2nd lunar month of 1843: Shibajûrô plays at the Nakamuraza the roles of Ôe Onitsura and Danjô's evil sister Yashio in the drama "Date Kurabe Okuni Kabuki".

8th lunar month of 1843: Shibajûrô plays at the Kawarasakiza the roles of Sawai Matagorô and Usami Goemon in the drama "Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku".

11th lunar month of 1843: Shibajûrô performs at the Kawarasakiza, in the drama "Osana Gunpô Jûroku Musashi", which celebrates the shûmei of Arashi Koroku V; his main stage partners are Bandô Hikosaburô IV, Seki Sanjûrô III, Nakamura Utaemon IV, Onoe Eizaburô III and Segawa Kikusaburô III.

3rd day of the 7th lunar month of 1844: his father Ichikawa Yaozô IV dies.

11th lunar month of 1844: Shibajûrô performs at the Ichimuraza in the drama "Azuma no Hana Sôma no Dairi", which celebrates the shûmei of Ichikawa Dannosuke V.

8th lunar month of 1845: Shibajûrô plays at the Ichimuraza the roles of the warrior priest Benkei and Yoshitsune's retainer Kataoka Hachirô in the drama "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura".

24th day of the 8th lunar month of 1847: Shibajûrô dies in Edo.

Comments:

Nakamura Shibajûrô was a 19th century actor, born and trained in Edo, who spent 16 years in Kamigata where he became a disciple of the Kamigata star Nakamura Utaemon III. This big-sized actor was outstanding in sewamono supporting roles, especially oyajigata (in his latter years) or katakiyaku roles.

Nakamura Shibajûrô playing the role of Gembeihori no Gembei in the drama "Nyôbo Zakari Naka-mo Yoshibei", which was staged in the 9th lunar month of 1838 at the Nakamuraza (print made by Utagawa Kunisada I)

The Iwai Kiyotarô line of actors

The Ichikawa Yaozô line of actors